Group prepares to release road, transit plan

Published 8:49 am Tuesday, February 18, 2014

ST. PAUL — A coalition of groups pushing Minnesota lawmakers to spend more on road and transit projects is releasing its proposal as the legislative session nears.

The Move MN plan could be one of several debated by transportation committees in the Legislature. It was scheduled to be unveiled Tuesday during a joint House-Senate transportation committee meeting.

Minnesota has a steep backlog of transportation needs but no long-term funding stream to meet them. But raising the gas tax or sales taxes could be difficult for legislators as they head into an election.

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Minnesota last passed a comprehensive spending proposal for transportation in 2008, the year after the deadly Interstate 35W bridge collapse highlighted the state’s aging infrastructure. But the financial infusion from that plan is starting to wane.